Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 287
The NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50, Clinical Trial Not Allowed), Funding Opportunity Number PAR-20-287, is a National Institutes of Health grant program created by the National Cancer Institute to support highly skilled research specialists who play essential roles in cancer research programs but are not positioned to be, or do not wish to be, independent principal investigators. The opportunity is aimed specifically at scientists working in core facilities, shared resources, or central scientific support units that underpin NCI-funded cancer research. In practice, this means the program is designed for people whose expertise and day-to-day work sustain multiple projects and investigators through specialized methods, instrumentation, data generation, consultation, and technical leadership, rather than for individuals building an independent, R01-style research portfolio.
A central purpose of this R50 mechanism is to create more stable and credible long-term career paths for exceptional core-based scientists. Many core staff scientists are critical to productivity and rigor across an institution, yet their positions can be overly dependent on the shifting availability of other investigators' grant funds. This award is intended to reduce that vulnerability by providing salary support and a level of autonomy that helps the specialist maintain continuity, contribute strategically, and continue advancing their expertise within an existing NCI-funded basic, translational, clinical, or population science cancer research program. The emphasis is on sustaining and strengthening the biomedical research enterprise by retaining specialized talent in roles that are often difficult to replace and that directly influence quality, reproducibility, and innovation across multiple research efforts.
The scope is broad with respect to scientific area, as long as the work aligns with NCI-funded cancer research. The key constraint is that this specific FOA does not allow clinical trials, meaning applications cannot propose conducting a clinical trial under this award. While the supported work may interface with clinical research environments or contribute to clinically relevant science (for example, biomarker assay development, genomics, biostatistics support, imaging cores, or biospecimen science), the award itself is not a vehicle to run an interventional clinical study.
Eligibility is expansive across U.S.-based organizational types, reflecting NIH's standard applicant categories. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) as well as certain tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, the announcement is clear about foreign restrictions. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In other words, the applicant organization and the supported work must be fully domestic within NIH policy limits for this FOA.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary grant under NIH, categorized under education and health-related funding activities, and is associated with multiple CFDA numbers tied to NCI programs (93.393 through 93.399). The FOA record indicates it was created on 2020-08-26, with an original closing date of 2021-01-04. The excerpted listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards, so applicants would typically look to the full FOA text and NIH budget guidance for allowable costs, project periods, and any institute-specific considerations.
Overall, PAR-20-287 is best understood as a career-stabilizing support mechanism for high-impact core and shared resource scientists in cancer research. It prioritizes retaining specialized expertise within NCI-funded programs by providing salary support and professional independence appropriate to a staff-scientist style role, while explicitly excluding clinical trial activities and disallowing foreign applicants or foreign components.Apply for PAR 20 287
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.397, 93.398, 93.399.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-08-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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FAQs: NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - PAR-20-287
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50, Clinical Trial Not Allowed), Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) PAR-20-287. It is an NIH grant program intended to support highly skilled research specialists who play essential roles in cancer research programs, especially through core facilities and shared scientific resources.
Who is the R50 (PAR-20-287) designed to support?
The program is designed for exceptional core-based scientists and research specialists who support multiple projects and investigators through specialized expertise, instrumentation, data generation, consultation, and technical leadership, rather than individuals seeking to build an independent, R01-style principal investigator research portfolio.
What kinds of roles or work settings does this award focus on?
This award specifically targets scientists working in core facilities, shared resources, or central scientific support units that underpin NCI-funded cancer research. These are roles where the scientist's day-to-day work enables multiple research efforts across an institution or program.
What is the main purpose of this R50 mechanism?
A central purpose is to create more stable and credible long-term career paths for highly skilled core-based scientists. Many core staff scientists are critical to productivity and rigor but can be vulnerable to shifting availability of other investigators' grant funds. This award aims to reduce that vulnerability by providing salary support and a level of autonomy appropriate to a staff-scientist style role.
How does this award help the cancer research enterprise?
The award prioritizes retaining specialized talent that is often difficult to replace and that directly influences quality, reproducibility, and innovation across multiple research efforts. It is intended to strengthen and sustain NCI-funded cancer research programs by maintaining continuity and strategic contributions from key research specialists.
What scientific areas are eligible under this FOA?
The scope is broad as long as the supported work aligns with NCI-funded cancer research. The FOA is intended to support core-based scientists contributing to basic, translational, clinical, or population science cancer research programs, provided the work fits within the FOA restrictions (including the clinical trial prohibition).
Are clinical trials allowed under PAR-20-287?
No. This FOA is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications cannot propose conducting a clinical trial under this award.
Can the supported work still relate to clinical research even if clinical trials are not allowed?
Yes. The supported work may interface with clinical research environments or contribute to clinically relevant science (for example, biomarker assay development, genomics, biostatistics support, imaging cores, or biospecimen science). However, the award itself cannot be used to run an interventional clinical study.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizational types. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) as well as certain tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments.
Are specific institution types (like HBCUs or Hispanic-serving Institutions) included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply for this FOA.
Can a U.S. organization apply if part of the work will be done outside the United States?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. The applicant organization and the supported work must be fully domestic within NIH policy limits for this FOA.
Which NIH institute sponsors this opportunity?
This opportunity is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program created by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?
The funding opportunity number is PAR-20-287.
What activity code/mechanism is used for this award?
The mechanism is the R50, described here as the NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award.
What is the grant type or administrative category mentioned for this opportunity?
The listing describes it as a discretionary grant under NIH, categorized under education and health-related funding activities.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers tied to NCI programs, listed as 93.393 through 93.399.
When was this FOA created?
The FOA record indicates it was created on 2020-08-26.
What was the original closing date shown in the listing?
The FOA record indicates an original closing date of 2021-01-04.
Does the provided listing include an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. The excerpted listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards. Applicants would typically consult the full FOA text and NIH budget guidance for allowable costs, project periods, and any institute-specific considerations.
What is the overall goal of PAR-20-287 in practical terms?
In practical terms, PAR-20-287 is a career-stabilizing support mechanism for high-impact core and shared resource scientists in cancer research. It prioritizes retaining specialized expertise within NCI-funded programs by providing salary support and professional independence appropriate to a staff-scientist role, while excluding clinical trials and disallowing foreign applicants or foreign components.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
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| Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) Incubator Program for New Cancer Sites (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 043 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 043 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Investigation of the Transmission of Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 046 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 046 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Role of Myeloid Cells in Persistence and Eradication of HIV-1 Reservoirs from the Brain (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 20 702 Funding Number: RFA MH 20 702 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Role of Myeloid Cells in Persistence and Eradication of HIV-1 Reservoirs from the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 20 701 Funding Number: RFA MH 20 701 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers for Years 2021, 2022, and 2023 (P50 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 20 305 Funding Number: PAR 20 305 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,400,000 |
| Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01- Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 310 Funding Number: PAR 20 310 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Biospecimen Access (X01) Apply for PAR 21 044 Funding Number: PAR 21 044 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Assay Validation of High Quality Markers for Clinical Studies in Cancer (UH3 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 314 Funding Number: PAR 20 314 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Assay Validation of High Quality Markers for Clinical Studies in Cancer (UH2/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 313 Funding Number: PAR 20 313 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Discovery of Cell-based Chemical Probes for Novel Brain Targets (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 028 Funding Number: PAR 21 028 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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